TCU to the Big East

[Marquette84]

I don't understand the need for divisions in an 18 team conference.  12 teams in two six-team divisions, sure, that makes sense.  But 18 teams?

--You can't schedule your division twice and the other once--that would be 16 + 9 or 25 total conference games.
--You could play your division twice and two or three select games from the other division--but nobody liked that when we were in CUSA and missed out on playing Memphis.
--You could simply play a 18 game schedule with every team once and one rival twice--but that kind of defeats the purpose of divisions.
--Regardless of divisions, the league will probably seed 1 through 18 for the conference tournament -- unless they're willing to set up a structure where a weaker division could send a team to the conference championship game.
--Regardless of divisions, the RPI is going to rank teams 1 through 18 for you.  As will Pomeroy, Sagarin, etc.

If you have 18 teams, it seems to make sense to have everyone play each other once and let the standings reflect a straight 1st through 18th place.  We're going to get that at the end of the season anyway for tournament seeding, RPI and NCAA bids, so why play games with divisions ahead of time.

[Aughnanure]

I don't understand the need for divisions in an 18 team conference.  12 teams in two six-team divisions, sure, that makes sense.  But 18 teams?

--You can't schedule your division twice and the other once--that would be 16 + 9 or 25 total conference games.
--You could play your division twice and two or three select games from the other division--but nobody liked that when we were in CUSA and missed out on playing Memphis.
--You could simply play a 18 game schedule with every team once and one rival twice--but that kind of defeats the purpose of divisions.
--Regardless of divisions, the league will probably seed 1 through 18 for the conference tournament -- unless they're willing to set up a structure where a weaker division could send a team to the conference championship game.
--Regardless of divisions, the RPI is going to rank teams 1 through 18 for you.  As will Pomeroy, Sagarin, etc.

If you have 18 teams, it seems to make sense to have everyone play each other once and let the standings reflect a straight 1st through 18th place.  We're going to get that at the end of the season anyway for tournament seeding, RPI and NCAA bids, so why play games with divisions ahead of time.

Id agree with that. But I was also wondering if they go to more than 10 teams, as in if they want to go to 12 like very other conference (UCF, Temple, Nova or Memphis). At 20 teams, would divisions make sense then? I think it would be interesting to have 4 divisions of 5 teams, but thats just me (emphasis on interesting, not saying it would work perfectly).

In an ideal world, Id love to grab two bball-only schools along with the two football schools added to even everything thing out, but I think the basketball-only schools have lost their negotiating leverage for that.

[CAINMUTINY]

I cannot see how this will help Marquette.  At this point I think our departure from the BE is now inevitable. 

[Dr. Blackheart]

TCU is actually West of the Mississippi River.

All BE schools are now located east of the West Fork of the Trinity River  

This deal is made for TV and football.  Gives a new currency lever with perhaps reopening a BE media deal by adding households in Dallas as noted in the article? What other football school to be added? Has to be another football school with this make-up. The BE already has the central Florida DMA.  As the BTN showed us, set tops are key.  U of Houston?  

[Aughnanure]

I cannot see how this will help Marquette.  At this point I think our departure from the BE is now inevitable. 

I agree, but I think the Bball-only schools will maintain the name Big East, as the football-only schools will most likely not be able to kick us out (not sure how voting changes with the imbalance though), and instead will just leave.

[MUWarrior4Life]

Like Xavier?

I like that suggestion, 4 sure

[MUfan12]

I cannot see how this will help Marquette.  At this point I think our departure from the BE is now inevitable. 

Possibly, but we may have just been granted a lengthy stay.

[GGGG]

Labwarrior. I guess I understand your hatred for college football on one level, but I am hard pressed to remember a better weekend of college football than this past one.

[willie warrior]

Let the countdown begin on Marquette's departure..........

I wonder about this myself. The BEast is becoming way too big, and a real mish mash with some schools in for BBall and at least one with a FBall team that is not in for that.

It seems to me that sooner or later, the geography, varied interests and football greed will cause a major upheaval of this cobference.

[CAINMUTINY]

Perhaps.  I am quite content with our role in the BE and I would hate to see that end

[jficke13]

Mainly I dislike the fact that every college football team is essentially a  Calipari team, corrupt to the core. Plus the rules makes no sense (PI a 15 yard foul? why is this sacrifice not a DB strategy?) And come on, recruit some soccer players that can hit a 30 yard field goal; kicking is pitiful.

Combine that with the fact that I have no allegiance to a team and the fact that college bball (a sport I love far more than I hate college football) is the victim as football schools scramble to make an offering to the BCS altar, and that's why I can't stand it.

[NYWarrior]

I wonder about this myself. The BEast is becoming way too big, and a real mish mash with some schools in for BBall and at least one with a FBall team that is not in for that.

It seems to me that sooner or later, the geography, varied interests and football greed will cause a major upheaval of this cobference.

True, but those same factors might drive other leagues to disintegrate first.   As an example, how long can the Bevo10 last now that Nebraska and Colorado are out?  Texas will get its own network soon, the league will lose the conference title game revenue across the league, and the league's media footprint is comparatively smaller.  The SEC wanted A&M (and Oklahoma) before, so why not now?

There could be plenty of refugee institutions out there soon, independent of the Big East's efforts.

edit: typo

[MUfan12]

True, but those same factors might drive other leagues to disintegrate first.   As an example, how long can the Bevo10 now that Nebraska and Colorado are out?  Texas will get its own network soon, the league will lose the conference title game revenue across the league, and the league's media footprint is comparatively smaller.  The SEC wanted A&M (and Oklahoma) before, so why not now?

There could be plenty of refugee institutions out there soon, independent of the Big East's efforts.

When this scenario was playing out this summer, it looked like Kansas was without a home.

I'd welcome them to the BE with open arms. Another football school, and another basketball power.

[MerrittsMustache]

Conference realignment/poaching is likely far from over. My guess is that the Big East wanted to snag TCU before the Big 12 did. It also opens a door into Texas/great plains for the BE if the Big 12 collapses.

[4everwarriors]

Perhaps.  I am quite content with our role in the BE and I would hate to see that end

Relax, we can always join the Big Ten.

[ecompt]

You watch. Within three years the BE will pay the basketball-only schools to take a hike. When I worked at the New York Post Lenny Robbins told me that Marquette wouldn't last 10 years in the conference because of the football angle. 

[TallTitan34]

I'll take that bet.

[john_cocktoasten]

Know all they need ND to join as a football school but I guess that's like waiting for Texas to leave the Big 12 for the Big East

[chren21]

I'll take that bet.

Im in on that bet too..

[chren21]

Van Pelt is absolutely killing this decision by the Big East right now.  He thinks it is a total rush to judgement move.

[NYWarrior]

Van Pelt is absolutely killing this decision by the Big East right now.  He thinks it is a total rush to judgement move.

I wonder if he said the same thing when the Big East invited Miami a decade and a half ago.  here's another take,

http://deadspin.com/5701222/weekend-winner-the-big-east-college-sports-honest-harlot

[muarmy81]

I don't think this is so bad.  If the Big East didn't move to bring in another FB school they were always in danger of getting one of their schools poached and then having the conference disband.  Now that they strengthened their FB position I think that it helps ensure the existence of the conference and as long as the conference exists and we finish in the top half for basketball then I think we'll have a home. 

If I were Seton Hall or DePaul I would be more worried.

[Jacks DC]

I don't think this is so bad.  If the Big East didn't move to bring in another FB school they were always in danger of getting one of their schools poached and then having the conference disband.  Now that they strengthened their FB position I think that it helps ensure the existence of the conference and as long as the conference exists and we finish in the top half for basketball then I think we'll have a home. 

If I were Seton Hall or DePaul I would be more worried.

I agree.  Hasn't the thought always been that the Big East needed to add a football power in order to ensure the long-term viability of the conference?  So now that the BE has the best non-AQ team in the country and exposure to a new market, why is this a bad thing for Marquette?  There may always be some paranoia there since we do not have a football program but I don't think this particular move spells doom for MU.

So now I guess we need to root for our conference and pull for TCU against Wisconsin in the Rose Bowl?

[ChicosBailBonds]

Villanova has to make their decision soon.

In discussions I had today with one of the girls that could be invited to the Big East dance, the Villanova decision is likely the next domino to fall, but there is also a few potential other possibilities.

If Nova decides to play football in the Big East, the conference may stop there.  If Nova decides not to step up, then Big East adds one other school from a list of three.   The other option is to add three more schools if Nova says no (or two more if Nova says yes).  Interesting times.

[bamamarquettefan]

I like it.  Who cares if TCU isn't good at basketball – they are better than DePaul and you aren't going to get a football team you need for BCS purposes that is also good at basketball.  Outside of the Big 10, the rest of the current BCS Top 10 averages being ranked 113th in basketball (at www.kenpom.com).  
1.   Auburn #182
2.   Oregon #118
3.   TCU #138
4.   Stanford #75
5.   Wisconsin #17
6.   Ohio State #3
7.   Arkansas #87
8.   Michigan State #8
9.   Oklahoma #114
10.   LSU #78

We need; 1) the Big East to keep BCS status, and 2) Marquette to stay in the Big East.  Clearly this is a tremendous boost to #1, and I don't see why it makes it any more likely that MU would be dumped than it was before the move.  Still shaky perhaps, but in much better shape than before this move and the Big 10 grabbing Nebraska instead of Rutgers and other BE schools.

As a season ticket holder for Auburn football I simply root for the Big East to win enough in football to stay in teh BCS, but I'm glad MU is a basketball-only school where recruits know they can be the stars on campus in an NBA city with a great coach.  I believe MU's hand is stronger than many think to stay in the BE long-term.